HC Deb 08 May 1969 vol 783 cc650-2
Q1. Mr. Marten

asked the Prime Minister when he will next officially visit the United States of America.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I have nothing at present to add to what I said in reply to an almost identical Question from the hon. Gentleman on 13th March.—[Vol. 779, c. 1556–7.]

Mr. Marten

When the Prime Minister eventually goes, which I assume will be after the Whitsun visit of my right hon. Friend, will he make a particular point of comparing American trades union legislation with the Cabinet proposals, which he is about to put forward before Whitsun, and which he described on Sunday as the greatest advance in legislation this century?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir; we have considered the American legislation and we have nothing to learn from American legislation in respect of what the Government have decided to put before the House. In reply to the earlier part of the question about the timing, the hon. Gentleman may be interested to know that I was originally invited to go to Washington in the latter part of February but, instead, the European visit of the President took place. During his visit we agreed that I would go in April or May, and, at my own suggestion, this has been deferred until later in the summer because four of my senior colleagues have been in Washington since the President's visit.

Mr. Molloy

Will my right hon. Friend agree that there is something to be learnt from American legislation? It has helped to increase the number of days lost through strike action. That is a lesson which we in this country might learn.

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend is entitled to learn all the lessons he wishes from American legislation. We have based our proposals on the facts and the problems that have to be dealt with in this country.

Mr. Heath

As the Prime Minister will not be visiting the President in the near future, will he tell the House whether he has had any communication with him about four-Power talks on the Israeli Arab conflict, what proposals Her Majesty's Government are putting forward to help bring about a settlement in the United Nations and whether any progress has been made?

The Prime Minister

We are in continuous touch with the President and his Administration on this question. The right hon. Gentleman will know of the talks which are going on almost from day to day between our representatives at the United Nations. He would not, any more than I would not, underrate the difficulties they have to face, but they are continuing to discuss every aspect of this question in the frankest possible way. [Interruption.] The Middle East crisis is not a laughing matter, even for the hon. Gentleman. The four Powers are discussing this in a real attempt to try to narrow the differences so that they can provide a solution that will give backing to Mr. Jarring in the job which he has been given to carry out the resolution which Her Majesty's Government introduced in the Security Council.

Mr. Heath

The Prime Minister will appreciate that it has been difficult to obtain any information from Foreign Office Ministers, even about the approach of the Government to this problem. Will he discuss with the Foreign Secretary whether at some reasonable date before the House rises it may be possible to say what is the approach?

The Prime Minister

I will certainly do that. The approach of the Government was stated by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the last foreign affairs debate. We have sometimes heard, not least from the right hon. Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Sir Alec Douglas-Home), the advantages of secret diplomacy in these matters, and, in view of the serious difficulties that have to be settled between the four Powers, there is a strong case for not making too many public pronouncements. I will discuss with my right hon. Friend whether more can be said.